Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code § 24302

Amounts received other than amounts paid by reason of the death of the insured under life insurance, endowment or annuity contracts, either during the term or at maturity or upon surrender of the contract, equal to the total amount of premiums paid thereon. In the case of a transfer for a valuable consideration by assignment or otherwise, of a life insurance, endowment or annuity contract or any interest therein, only the actual value of such consideration and the amount of the premiums and other sums subsequently paid by the transferee shall be excluded from gross income under Section 24305 or this section. The preceding sentence shall not apply in the case of such a transfer if such contract or interest therein has a basis for determining gain or loss in the hands of a transferee determined in whole or in part by reference to such basis of such contract or interest therein in the hands of the transferor or to a corporation in which the insured is a shareholder or officer.